Bumrah: India's most reliable workhorse during BGT

Jasprit Bumrah is one of those fast bowlers who come along once in a generation.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Jasprit Bumrah is one of those fast bowlers who come along once in a generation. The pace maestro has taken the art of seam bowling to a different stratosphere altogether, prompting comparisons with some of the legends of yesteryears.

The Indian pace spearhead has been a workhorse during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and to such an extent that it would not be wrong to give this series a tag of 'Bumrah vs Australia'.

Amid uninspiring performances from Indian batters Bumrah has found himself as the centre of all attention.

First Test at PerthIn this match, Bumrah ended up with a total of eight runs in one innings and overall figures of 8/72 in 30 overs, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, and figures of 5/30 in 18 overs. During the first day, Bumrah was brought into the services with the bat and he scored eight runs. To end the day on a high after bundling out India for 150, he also took two wickets to end Australia's day at 67/7. On the second day, he removed skipper Pat Cummins and Alex Carey to restrict Australia to 104 and give India a 46-run lead. After India declared their innings at 487/6 on day three, Bumrah gave India the start they needed, got two early wickets to put Australia at trouble at 12/3. On day four, he took the important wicket of Travis Head.

Second Test at AdelaideBumrah took four wickets across both innings, with a four-wicket haul in the first innings.

The pink-ball Test saw India skittled out for 180 runs after electing to bat first on day one itself. However, Bumrah took the wicket of Usman Khawaja early on.